November Gratitude Wall

Happy
November! We are quickly approaching Thanksgiving,
which is a time for expressing gratitude.
This month, I want to talk about the power of expressing gratitude. This November, we have done a gratitude wall
with the goal of having a wall full come the end of the month. The gratitude’s
do not have to be big; they only have to be meaningful. One staff member was grateful that she had
co-workers who supported her when her baby was sick, and they did not guilt her
for bringing her child to work. Others
were grateful for working in a drama-free office, or for supportive spouses.

Giving
ourselves the space to be thankful for all that we have helps us to see just
how much we often take for granted. Lunch with a client; having clients; my
three-year-old very passionately ending her dinner prayer with “Awe Ha!” instead
of “Amen”; gas in my tank, having a car; the ability to exercise; family
nearby; the love of friends and family; the humility and fear of parenting; a
loving marriage; happy and healthy children; rain, sun, cloudy days, blue
skies—so much to be grateful for!

When we
focus on the good, we might find that our perception of things will change. One of my favorite quotes is, “We can always
choose to perceive things differently.
You can focus on what’s wrong in your life, or you can focus on what’s
right.” It becomes increasingly more
difficult to be negative when all you can think about are the positives.

I want
to share this because we all have things for which we should be grateful, and
even if the company is losing money, you are out of work, or a loved one is
sick, things could be worse. I would
encourage you to think about what you are grateful for this month. And, as you close out the year, perhaps you
can begin seeing the positive things that occur daily. Happy
Thanksgiving!